A&E

Fest Faves: Free Festival shuttle and parking, honest

by Dominick Cross

It's not sexiest thing about Festival International de Louisiane, but it's a subject that Apiyo Obala, Festival's marketing coordinator asks that people be made aware of: Free Festival shuttle service.

It's not sexiest thing about Festival International de Louisiane, but it is something just as important as the music when the Best World Music Festival, so voted in the about.com poll, rolls around downtown in a couple of weeks. That's April 25-29, to be exact.

Actually, it's a subject that Apiyo Obala, Festival's marketing coordinator asks that people be made aware of: Free Festival shuttle service.

"We're always encouraging people to do this only because there's no place to park downtown and people get frustrated," she says. "And this is free."

By free, Obala says that includes parking at the Cajundome (corner of Congress and Cajundome Boulevard) and the shuttle service itself. The free Festival shuttle will drop you off downtown at Jefferson and Lee streets.

"So it's a free service we offer for a free festival," she says. "People can't find parking downtown and they're frustrated because a lot of streets are blocked off."

The shuttle service is for locals, tourists, and volunteers, too.

"I can't tell you how many emails I get from people asking where to park," says Obala, who then directs them to the section on Festival's website about the shuttle service, which is here.

Anyway, here's the nitty-gritty:

A partnership with UL Lafayette and sponsored by the Southern Super Chevy Dealer Association, the shuttles run about 30 minutes before Festival begins and stops about 30 minutes to an hour afterward. In the meantime, the service runs every 15 minutes.

Free Shuttle Schedule

Thursday 5:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Last shuttle leaves downtown at 11:30 p.m.

Friday 5:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Last shuttle leaves downtown at 11:30 p.m.

Saturday 10:30am - Midnight
Last shuttle leaves downtown at Midnight

Sunday 10:30am - 8 p.m.
Last shuttle leaves downtown at 8 p.m.